Foreign Investment Company Setup (FDI) — Complete process for foreign nationals to establish a Korean corporation. One-stop service from foreign investment report and capital deposit to corporate registration, tax registration, and D-8 visa application. Minimum registered capital of KRW 100M is the core requirement.
Under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act, a foreign investor must file a foreign investment report at a designated foreign exchange bank, deposit the registered capital of KRW 100M+ into the corporate account, and complete corporate registration followed by tax registration. After registering as a foreign-invested enterprise, the investor may apply for the D-8 Corporate Investment Visa. Spouse and minor children may reside together under F-3 (dependent) status.
1. Overview
A foreign-invested company in Korea is established under the Foreign Investment Promotion Act. The minimum investment amount is KRW 100 million. Once registered as a foreign-invested enterprise, the investor may apply for a D-8 visa.
2. Requirements
- Valid passport and identity documents (passport copy, recent photo)
- Minimum registered capital of KRW 100 million
- Holding of at least 10% of the voting shares of the invested corporation (or an executive dispatch contract)
- Business premises (documents proving the workplace exists, especially for individual investors under KRW 300 million)
- Proof of fund introduction (remittance confirmation, foreign exchange purchase certificate)
3. Required Documents
For a detailed document checklist tailored to your situation, please request a consultation.
4. Process
- Consultation and investment eligibility review
- Foreign investment report at foreign exchange bank
- Establish Korean corporation (articles of incorporation, shareholder registry)
- Open corporate bank account and deposit registered capital
- Complete corporate registration (court registry office)
- Business registration at tax office
- Register as foreign-invested enterprise (KOTRA or municipal government)
- Apply for D-8 visa issuance confirmation or status change
- Obtain D-8 visa at Korean embassy in home country (or in-Korea change)
- Register as foreigner within 90 days of entry